The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-09-14

R,t IL he spends one hundred dollars for
liquors, he has only paid to the workingman
$l.23; ,,,.,
According. TO, the brewers and distillers'
own figuers, furnished to the census enumer-
ators,in 1880, the total wages PAID py Lnem
and. this included the wages OF men not d.
rectly employed in the manufacture OF tne
acCurSed stuff
Now it is. pretty well known that men who
spend their money for liquor do no spend a
great deal for food. clothing, furniture, car
pets, boots and shoes. 80.
If this money ,one thousand million dollars,
now worse. than wasted IN tne Purcnase OF
Iinuor was directed!into the channels OF leglti-
mate trade, and would be, as it ought to be,
and would if the saloons were closed, in the
purchase. of good food, good clothing, furnl-
ture, etc., ID would return to to the working
man not less than 500, 900 900, instead OF less
than s15. 100000, as it now does.
Nor would this be all; the hgures gwen
above do not include the wages OF statesmen,
etc., they simply mean the amount Palo 1ne
workincmen for the manufacture.
A LIQUOR store that sells 1900 worth, OF
liouor per day would require but one or two
bartenders; but retail dry goods or oootan9
shoe store that sold that amount daily would
reouire the service Of at least double the
number of salesmen that the saloon dces.:
7. V. Powderly, Master Workman OF the
Knights Of Labor. says: "Close the rum
factory in the whole country, AND the rail-
roads cannot handle the business.
II is true, absolutely true Close he sa-
looms; start the mills; spend the money for
food, clothing, and comforts, and lu1urles OF
life, and there will be no hard times, no de-
preston of business, but sober men and happy
homes.-Irish World.
A Remarkable Appeal.
Nothing more stirring has appeared for
long time than the appeal that comes from the
inmates of the Tennessee State-prison, at
Nashville, in behalf of Prohibition. 1t Is
signed by 401 convicts beginning with the
name of G. F. Norton, and ending with that
of Ben Morris, and runs in part as, follows:
"We, the inmates Of the State Penlten-
tiary. knowing by observation, and convinced
by undeniable facts, that l!q LOT Is the cause
of all the misery we endure, OF all the hard
ships and privations we subject those to de-
pendent upon us, do hereby most earnestly
ask tLat the voters Of this great state may
seriously consider the question before them
and give their aid in word and deed to the
oaues of Prohibition. We do not claim
that every criminal act was .perpetrated
under the influence of whiskey; but we fear
lessly assert that ree-fourths confined IN
these walls can trace their downfall directly
or indirectly to that cause"
The appeal is given to the public through
the Chaplain, N. w: Ctley, who certlhes tsat
IL was drawn up and signed in the exact form
in which it appears by the prisoners them
selves "without any dictation as to form or
natter upon his part ''or the part Of any
other man outside the roll of convicts them
selves ..
We know there is always some discount to
| be placed on such statements coming from
| criminals or drunkards or dead-beats. 1t is
natural for them usually to exaggerate the
mart LIQUOR has played in their degradation,
making it a sort of scapegoat for their own
| sins and weaknesses. But allowing for all
reasonable discount, this petition remains as
| one of the most cogent arguments ever put
| into form for the extirpation of the saloon.
| These men know their enemy and know
| his power. 1t is hardly coceivable that such
! an appeal does not come from their hearts.
| What q flood of misery is presented here,
flowing through the swinging doJrs OF the
barroom! Poor wrecks upon the shores Of
| time, In all the infinite eternity God has
riven them one life to live here upon earth,
! and only one, and they have made hideous
failure Of that Why! In great part-yes,
in greatest part-because of the open gates
of hell" kept open by, the license policy of
the State, legalized by the Government,
made part and parcel of organized society
and their profits shared in by the Christian
Community under which they receive their
seal of sanction. God pity us all for the hells
upon earth for which we have been so long
responsible!
The saloon must go!-Voice.
The London Grand Division of Sons oi
TEMPERANCE has ninety two branches with
over 1000 members, and an accumulated
fund of sa4, 900. Its benefits range from 5s
, to e1 per week during sickness, and from e.
to ESQ at death.